sets 1 of 2

Definition of setsnext
present tense third-person singular of set
1
as in spawns
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
4
as in sits
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
7
8
9
10

sets

2 of 2

noun

plural of set
1
as in factions
a group of people acting together within a larger group the younger set is less likely to volunteer for the church's annual rummage sale

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
5
as in decors
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production built sets for the play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sets
Verb
Congress sets a statutory deadline for the president to deliver a budget request for the coming fiscal year by the first Monday of February, but recent presidents have trended toward submitting their requests weeks after delivering the annual State of the Union address. Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026 The statute of limitations sets a legal deadline for how long creditors have to sue you over an unpaid balance, but the rules around what happens after that deadline are murkier than most people realize. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026 In one of the musical’s many stomach-turning late developments, its resident rake, a bisexual playboy played by Claybourne Elder (doing better after his carriage accident), sets his sights on a 14-year-old girl who has slipped into the party from Poughkeepsie (Maya Rowe) and tries to rape her. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026 On Thursday evenings, live jazz sets the mood. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026 This consistent thread of merging high-performance materials with unique aesthetic solutions is what sets Torras apart. Footwear News, 18 Mar. 2026 On what sets it apart from traditional honey, mānuka honey is derived from the nectar of Mānuka flowers native to New Zealand and parts of Australia. Iman Balagam, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2026 The death of Nora Aunor—a Filipina singer and movie star—sets the narrative in motion. Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026 Seasons and the Earth's tilt On the equinox, the sun rises almost due east and sets nearly due west for most of the world, except for the North and South poles. Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
That marquee status would seem to be a virtual guarantee for his second-round match later today against Alcaraz—Fonseca gamely fought through his first-round match against Hungary’s Fábián Marozsán yesterday in three sets, setting up this early-round gut-check. Nick Remsen, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2026 Flat screen televisions didn’t enter the market until 1997, so in 1996, we were all gathered around massive, furniture-weight cathode ray tube sets. Ryan Brennan march 20, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026 Among the other sets on tap are a Baller Alert and Front Porch celebration of 50 years of go-go hosted by Noochie & Kenny Burns, as well as sets from Funk Flex, Beano French, Infinite Coles, DJ Diamond Kuts, DJ Cash Money, DJ Aktive, DJ Doc B, DJ Miss Milan, DJ Kid Roc and Ray Bae the DJ. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 20 Mar. 2026 In addition, several dining room furniture pieces and sets of china are up for grabs. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026 And just a figurative trolley ride away, at the Heinz History Center, visitors can step inside the neighborhood itself, exploring original sets and props from the beloved series. Christopher Derose, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026 Between sets, DJs including Funk Flex, DJ Diamond Kuts, DJ Cash Money, DJ Doc B, and DJ Miss Milan will keep the energy high throughout the weekend. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 20 Mar. 2026 When the Spartans turn their attention to the business portion of practice and work against the scout team, Fears leads the starters through a few sets before stopping. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026 Both these sets are among the best Lego space sets and best Lego NASA sets. Chris McMullen, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets
Verb
  • But reading the profile of Mohamad Eisa and Yolka Gessen left me with a kind of dread, the kind that comes when a spin-off from a hit show spawns a spin-off of its own, promising/threatening hundreds of new hours of content to keep up with.
    Jessa Crispin, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026
  • At the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Nadella sat for a conversation with the Forum’s interim co-chair, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, explaining that if AI growth spawns solely from investment, then that could be signs of a bubble.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Where the federal government chooses to voluntarily dismiss a case (rather than settling), the Act creates a process by which state attorneys general can step into the shoes of the federal government and continue the case.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
  • In practice, this means a single unpaid judgment can generate multiple levies over time, each one hitting your account when the creditor chooses to act.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Figuring out who most values World Cup tickets, or any scarce resource, is a hard problem, and high prices are often an elegant solution.
    Alex Mayyasi, NPR, 17 Mar. 2026
  • But Stammen also values someone who can scare an opposing pitcher.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The planet in question, L 98-59 d, sits roughly 35 light-years away.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Mar. 2026
  • The school sits just down the street from the Quindaro Ruins.
    Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The fourth measure to be endorsed Wednesday aims to increase San Diego’s hotel tax revenue, but at the expense of online travel companies like Expedia instead of at the expense of tourists.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The Air Force now aims to translate those lessons into a portable, lethal system.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In the original script, Laura, despite becoming aware of the twisted role into which she’s been cast, decides to stay with Betty’s family.
    Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The Martinez Lake temperature won’t be deemed a new national March heat record unless the National Centers for Environment Information decides to investigate it.
    Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • If Lurie secures the approvals, the new hospital could open in early 2029.
    Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Universal’s longer guarantee of theatrical exclusivity, however, acknowledges that a meaningful big-screen run secures a better return on investment.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • That ratio puts the live-action series early in its journey through the source material.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
  • The light-catching final result puts an frosty twist on the glazed donut nail trend.
    Grace McCarty, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on sets

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster